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Full Season Preview, Division and Playoff Seeding Predictions (Show 15) · Biscuit Breakdown

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: It's time for biscuit breakdown, where hockey is the only thing on the menu.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: And welcome back, everybody, whoever you root for, wherever you live, whenever it is, it's almost time for the new NHL season.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: I am pumped up.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: I am excited for all these new teams, all these new storylines, the hatred, the drama, the fast-paced action, all of this good stuff is coming our way, and we're getting ready to embark on a new journey towards the next Stanley Cup champion in 2027, believe it or not.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: Coming up on our show today, we are going to be talking about some of the remaining storylines from the summer, and then I'm going to give my predictions for basically where every team will finish come mid-April, and the eight teams from the east and the eight teams from the west that will be making the playoffs.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm going to go on record and predict the whole season for you, and we'll see how correct or incorrect I can be.com, or you can now text me by clicking the link in the show notes, and I will get a text and we can communicate that way.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: So there's a lot of ways to get in contact with me.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: If you have any questions, topics, mock trades, talking about players that are overperforming or underperforming, I would love to hear it all.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: So please reach out to me and I will edit to the next episode.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: And as for right now, it's time for the Fresh Out the Oven segment.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, in case you're new here, the Fresh Out the Oven segment is just talking about the latest news and notes.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: And I know that some of this is stale from the summer, so these biscuits are a little bit stale, but we're gonna talk about them anyway, and then we will get into my season predictions.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Couple of storylines from the summer that I did want to talk about briefly.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: Connor McDavid was named the first player to the NHL 27 99 club, so he's got a 99 skill rating.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: He's the first player ever in an NHL game to receive the 99 club rating.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: That took came as a surprise to me.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: I honestly don't play the NHL games.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not really into sports video games.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um I played a shitload of NHL Hits 2002 with my brother and my cousin way back in the day.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: Uh loved that game, beat it you know, countless times, creating a franchise.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: And if you know what I'm talking about, NHL Hits, they need to make a remake of that, and I would definitely buy that.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: Um it's over the top three-on-three hockey.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um another NHL game that I did play with my roommate in college a ton was the NHL 3 on three arcade game.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: Uh that was back on the Xbox 360, and I'm sure it was probably on PlayStation 3 or something.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: But that was a really fun game as well.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: So I like more of the arcade style hockey games.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: I was never really one to buy the actual NHL game.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so I didn't know that they didn't have a 99 rated player ever until this year's edition when they anointed Connor McDavid as the first ever 99.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_00: I know there was some blowback on that saying that no one should really be a 99.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: I agree with it.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: I think Connor McDavid should be a 99.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: He is unfathomably good, unfathomably.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: Jeez, I can't say that word.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_00: I can't even fathom how good he is at hockey.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: It's just messing with my brain's ability to speak.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um but he is ridiculous, and if anyone deserves to be a ninety-nine in the game, I think it should be him, so I agree with their decision to rate him a ninety-nine.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: Next topic.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: Um The Islanders fans have voted on the next third jersey for them, which will go into effect next season.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um they chose the alternate jersey of having the lighthouse on the front of the jersey.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_00: I thought that was pretty cool.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um we all wanted the fishermen to come back, but seems like they weren't gonna go with that.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_00: Um but I thought the lighthouse was the second best option.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_00: It's um representing the famous Montauk Lighthouse.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: So, I mean, they're the Islanders, you got the lighthouse, it goes, the color scheme is pretty solid, so cool job by the Islanders to let the fans get involved.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: Next topic, Connor Hellibuck, the phenomenal goalie of the Winnipeg Jets, has requested a trade.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_00: He is done with Winnipeg, and just like Brady Kachuk and Dylan Larkin and these other US US stars that won the gold medal back in February, um, he's getting a little bit antsy with his team and their lack of progress, and he wants out.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_00: He wants to get somewhere in the States, supposedly.
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see if he gets traded to any team and basically instantly makes them a contender.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_00: There's rumors that he might go to the Devils, or he might go to the Carolina Hurricanes, or somehow, some way the Panthers might swindle him for a trade.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_00: Um we'll wait and see.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: I doubt he goes to the Panthers.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_00: They're pretty much maxed out unless they trade their two goalies, um, who they just got.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_00: Um so we'll just see what happens.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: I think the Devils make sense because the Devils have some question marks in net um and they have Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes, and you know, he played with Jack at the Olympics, so maybe he'll agree to go there.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_00: But it all depends what the Devils will send back.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: Um speaking of Dylan Larkin, he has been stripped of his captain role for the Detroit Red Red Wings.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: That's no surprise because he requested a trade back in um I think it was late June or maybe early July.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_00: He was like, I want out, and uh he's tired of the Red Wings kind of being a mediocre team, and um he wants to go somewhere else, but basically he hasn't been traded yet, and they might not trade him.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: And they're like, Well, you're not gonna be our captain anymore because clearly you don't want to be here, so why would anyone be motivated by you?
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_00: We're going to choose a new captain, and I agree with that stance.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_00: I think a lot of people would agree with that.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um, next up we have Ryan Leonard, the young forward for the Washington Capitals.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_00: He just signed an eight-year, 10.5 million per year deal with the Capitals, so good for him.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_00: In my opinion, I think this is an overpay.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_00: He is a pretty good player.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: Um, he has not reached his full capabilities yet, um, so I think his best play is ahead of him, but I still think ten point five million is a bit high.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, even with the cap going up, I just think it's an overpay.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but we'll see if he can shut me up.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_00: Speaking of overpays, Drake Batherson signs with the Ottawa Senators for eight years and a little over 10 million per year.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_00: So congrats to him.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_00: But once again, I think this is an overpay, and I think it's even worse than the Ryan Leonard deal, because Batherson will be 29 years old when this kicks in, so that will take him from age 29 to 37.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_00: Meanwhile, Ryan Leonard is only 21 years old, so his eight-year deal will cover much more of his prime.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: So the Batherson deal is worse in my opinion.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I don't know why he got so much money, because last year he had a career high, 33 goals, 71 points.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_00: That's that's a good year, but that's not like blowing anyone out of the water.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um so we'll see if uh he can continue to rise, but I would expect his peak to come earlier than Ryan Leonard in terms of the deal length because he's getting older, if that makes sense.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_00: Um Connor Bedard was named captain of the Blackhawks, and I thought that was stupid timing because he is currently out rehabbing his shoulder from surgery until at least mid-November.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: So I thought it would have been more effective for them to just wait to announce him as captain until he was about to return.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um that would fire up the club more, in my opinion, as well as the fan base.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um, if you announce it now, it's like, okay, he's our captain, and our captain is out for the first five weeks, six weeks of the year.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like kind of more of a bummer.
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_00: Um rather than oh, Bedard is back, and he's our captain.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_00: Let's fucking go.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_00: You know, that's my vibe.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, if you agree or disagree, I'd love to hear from you.
• 10:03
  SPEAKER_00: Reach out on socials.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um what else do I have written down here?
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_00: Last thing I wrote down was the Ducks and Cutter Gautier have agreed on a six-year$13.5 million deal for the winger.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: And um I thought this was a fair deal, honestly, and a little bit surprising the fact that he was willing to sign this deal when his teammate, Leo Carlson, signed for$18 million over the summer.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: So he's making four and a half million dollars less than a player that is just about the same skill level as him.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um so he helped the team out in that regard, which was a bit surprising, but guess what?
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: He's still in his early 20s, and when this six-year deal is done, he will be able to sign another huge deal, and he will definitely be getting a pay raise as the cap is going up.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_00: So he will not be hurting for money, even in California where there's crazy taxes, he will be doing just fine.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_00: Um, like I said, if you have anything to debate me on or have a question about something or want to add to the fresh out the oven segment, be sure to reach out on socials, or you can hit that link in the show notes.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_00: Have you been grossly misrepresented in NHL twenty seven?
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_00: Is the virtual character of yourself looking like AI had a baby with a bridge troll?
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_00: Are you now questioning everything about your physical appearance and contemplating wearing a full cage to shield your possibly hideous face from the masses?
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_00: Well then you're in luck.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_00: Contact NHL twenty seven players fighting for their faces coalition to join the class action lawsuit against Electronic Arts and demand action from them to fix the god awful character models since the game dropped, along with getting your financial compensation that you deserve.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, welcome back everybody.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_00: It is now time to discuss my season predictions for each division, who will finish in what order, and then talk about the eight playoff teams from the east and the eight playoff teams from the west.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna go somewhat quick here, so try to stay with me.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_00: Um in the metro.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_00: No surprise, I am picking the Carolina Hurricanes to win that division.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_00: They won the Stanley Cup.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_00: They are basically bringing their entire roster back.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_00: They have a proven formula to win, and I expect them to keep humming along business as usual and win the metro, which is not that strong of a division, although it's gaining strength.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_00: Like a hurricane out in the Atlantic Ocean in the middle of August and September.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, second place in the Metro.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_00: I'm going with the Washington Capitals.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_00: They made a lot of good additions.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_00: Um, they have a strong, deep team, they have a big ass team, a lot of heavy ass dudes on that team.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_00: They have a solid goalie in Logan Thompson.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_00: They have a great coach, and I think they're gonna have a bounce back year and earn second in the metro.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_00: Third place, I'm going with the New Jersey Devils.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_00: They are loaded with talent.
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_00: The only question marks are, I would say, their goalie play, and obviously if they get Connor Hellebuck, that'll make a huge difference.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_00: And then also their coaching.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_00: I've never been a fan of Sheldon Keefe.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think he did a very good job so far with the Devils.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think he really even did that good of a job with the Maple Leafs when he was there.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_00: Um he can coach a team for the most part in the regular season, but playoff time is a no-go with him, it seems.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_00: Fourth place in the Metro, I am giving to the Philadelphia Flyers.
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_00: They are young, they are scrappy, they play tough.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_00: Um I don't know if there is enough consistent goal scoring for them to compete night in and night out.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but they should be in a lot of low-scoring games, in my opinion, and um winning a decent amount.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_00: Fifth place is going to the Penguins, the geriatric penguins, with old Sidney Crosby and old Malkin and old Letang and old Eric Carlson, and just some dudes that are just, you know, on the back nine, maybe even whole eighteen at this point.
• 14:56
  SPEAKER_00: Um uh they're goalie they have question marks in goal and on defense, so I'm not expecting a great year from the Penguins.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_00: I expect the Rangers to bounce back a bit.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I think they will finish in sixth in the Metro.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_00: They obviously have a great goalie, they have um of an improved defensive core, but they are gonna struggle to score goals.
• 15:17
  SPEAKER_00: The Islanders will be in seventh place in the metro.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_00: They are old, they are boring, they have a coach that will be playing a boring style.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be a lot of low-scoring games because they do have a good goalie.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I think the Islanders are going to be on an island in terms of you know being anything that's gonna be interesting.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_00: And in last place in the Metro, I am choosing the Columbus Blue Jackets.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_00: There is very little to like about this team besides Zach Werenski, a stud defenseman who might be traded mid-year, who knows?
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but yeah, this this team is uh pretty much doo-doo.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um so that is how I see the metro um filling out.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_00: The Atlantic Division, I am going to choose the Florida Panthers to finish first.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_00: Now you might be saying, Oh, Sean, you're um just saying that because you are a fan of the Panthers.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_00: Well, yes, but also I am trying to put pressure on them that they have a great roster and a great opportunity to get first in this division, even though it is a very tough division, but I I think they can do it, and I think they should do it.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm putting the target on their back as the team to beat in that division, and I see them winning the Atlantic.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_00: In second place in the Atlantic, I am going to go with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_00: They still have a great goalie, they have veteran players, they have a great um 1-2 punch for their top two lines.
• 16:55
  SPEAKER_00: They have won in the past and they know what it takes, so give me Tampa as the number two seed.
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_00: In the three seed out of the Atlantic division, I will take the Montreal Canadians.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_00: They made noise in the playoffs this spring, and they are returning basically their whole team.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_00: They are young, they are hungry, they are very skilled and fast, and I expect them to have a great year.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_00: In fourth place in the Atlantic will be the Buffalo Sabres.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_00: They have a lot of good players.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_00: Um question marks in goal.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe they'll trade for Connor Hellebuck, and that would change the game for them, but we'll see.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um but I think it's gonna be a slight step back for Buffalo.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_00: Fifth in the Atlantic, I'm going with the Boston Bruins.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_00: They have a great goalie in Jeremy Swayman, some solid defenders, they have a decent forward core, um, but I think they might struggle a little bit to score goals.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe I'm wrong.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_00: Time will tell.
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_00: Sixth place, I'm going with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_00: They've upgraded their goalie with Bobrobsky if he can stay healthy and play well, even though he's getting older.
• 18:07
  SPEAKER_00: Um they do have some great players like Austin Matthews, and we'll see what the number one pick, Gavin McKenna, can do.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_00: Um seventh place, I'm going with the Ottawa Senators.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_00: They traded away their captain, Brady Kachuk, to the Panthers, and now there is a hole to fill there in terms of leadership and who's bringing them into the fight night in and night out, quite literally.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_00: And um, you know, we'll just have to see what goes on there.
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_00: And then in last place in the Atlantic, I'm going with the Detroit Red Wings.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_00: I think they will be in a bit of a tailspin this year.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_00: They've got question marks all over the place.
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_00: They got the mess of the Dylan Larkin situation.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_00: Um not much on this team is exciting anywhere from forwards defense to goalie.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_00: It's just a giant poop shoot, in my opinion.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see if I'm correct on all of that.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, moving to the central division.
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_00: I think the Colorado Avalanche will be back with a vengeance, and I think they will be again at the top of the central.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_00: They are pissed off about being swept by Vegas in the Western Conference final, and Nathan McKinnon will be on sicko mode, just making sure that they don't take anything for granted and keep their pedal to the metal the entire year and playoffs.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_00: Second place in the central, I'm going with the Dallas Stars.
• 19:35
  SPEAKER_00: They got a lot of talent, obviously a great goalie in Jake Ottinger.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_00: Um can they finally do something, though?
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_00: They've been to the playoffs a bunch, and they always seem to disappoint their fan base.
• 19:47
  SPEAKER_00: Third place in the central, I'm going with the Utah Mammoth, who are continuing to rise.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_00: They made great additions this summer with Anders Lee, the former captain of the Islanders.
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_00: They added Vincent Trochek for more center depth, who's great on face-offs and penalty killing.
• 20:07
  SPEAKER_00: And this team is going to be able to score.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_00: They scored a bunch last year.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um, can they play better defense?
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_00: I think they can because of those new additions, and I just think they're going to be an all-around great team to watch.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_00: Fourth place, I'm going with the Minnesota Wild.
• 20:25
  SPEAKER_00: Their goalies are good, their defense are good.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_00: The reason that I'm putting them fourth place in the central is because I do have some question marks about their forwards.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um, their forwards are not that deep, in my opinion.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then also they have the whole Quinn Hughes situation weighing over their head.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it's a tough situation.
• 20:49
  SPEAKER_00: It's like a bubbling cauldron.
• 20:51
  SPEAKER_00: You don't know what's going to happen, but you know there's going to be an explosion sometime soon.
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_00: Either he will re-sign with the Wild or he will decide not to sign anything so he can become a free agent next summer and then sign with most likely the New Jersey Devils because he wants to play with his other two brothers who are already on the Devils.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um so the Wild are in a tough spot there, and we'll see what happens.
• 21:18
  SPEAKER_00: In fifth place of the Central, I'm gonna go with the St.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_00: Louis Blues.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_00: I think they should be a decent team, but nothing that great.
• 21:29
  SPEAKER_00: Sixth place, I'm going with the Nashville Predators.
• 21:33
  SPEAKER_00: Um they have an older team.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_00: Really nothing too exciting there.
• 21:38
  SPEAKER_00: They also just traded a 24 year old good player, which is leaving me scratching my head.
• 21:45
  SPEAKER_00: Um they traded Luke Evangelista to the Devils.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_00: Um I don't know why.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_00: He looked like he was a potential piece that they could build around, and they got rid of him.
• 21:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um so I don't know what's going on down there in Nashville besides country.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: Music and beers.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_00: Alright.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_00: Moving to seventh place in the central, I am going to choose the Chicago Blackhawks.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_00: I think they are trying to turn the corner, but it's still tough.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_00: They got a lot of things to work out, and their captain Connor Bedard will be missing part of the year.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_00: And they just they got to get better.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_00: And last place of the central is going to be the Winnipeg Jets.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_00: Their goalie, who is a great player for them, he doesn't want to be there.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_00: That's leaving a huge hole about what the hell is going to go on there.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_00: They have a little bit of an older team, a slower team.
• 22:38
  SPEAKER_00: Their defense is shaky.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_00: I'm going to just say the Jets are grounded in the basement of the Central.
• 22:46
  SPEAKER_00: And moving into the Pacific division, I am going to choose the Edmonton Oilers with their new coach, Mike Babcock, who is going to come in there and quack crack the whip.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_00: Quack the whip.
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_00: No, he's not for the Ducks.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_00: He's for the Oilers.
• 23:02
  SPEAKER_00: He's going to crack the whip and run a tight ship up there in Edmonton.
• 23:09
  SPEAKER_00: And I think they will win that division, which is not a very strong division.
• 23:13
  SPEAKER_00: There's really no reason why they shouldn't win the division.
• 23:16
  SPEAKER_00: They've made upgrades at goalie, and they have two of the best players in the world, with McDavid and Drysidel.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_00: They have Evan Bouchard, who's one of the best defensemen in the world.
• 23:27
  SPEAKER_00: So really no excuses for Edmonton to make a deep playoff run, if not win the Stanley Cup.
• 23:32
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, we gotta get McDavid at least one cup.
• 23:35
  SPEAKER_00: I would be happy if he got one.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_00: You know, he deserves one for all that he's given to the NHL.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_00: So I know my wife will be cringing at that.
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_00: She does not like McDavid.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_00: She thinks he's too serious.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_00: Um he is serious.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe he'll lighten up and that will help them.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_00: Second place in the Pacific is going to be the Vegas Golden Knights.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_00: They have a very good team, and I think they will be um upset that they lost the Stanley Cup, obviously, and refocused for another deep run.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_00: Third place in the Pacific, I'm going with the upstart San Jose Sharks.
• 24:14
  SPEAKER_00: They got a young squad, they're very talented, they're fast, they're hungry.
• 24:18
  SPEAKER_00: They made good additions on defense, um, not for the right price value, in my opinion, but they got um Jacob Truva Truba and they got Darnell Nurse, so that adds a lot of grit and meanness to their defense.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um I do think that they overpaid those guys, but that's neither here nor there.
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_00: I think it will be enough to get the Sharks back into the playoffs.
• 24:48
  SPEAKER_00: Fourth place in the Pacific, I'm going with the Anaheim Ducks.
• 24:52
  SPEAKER_00: They had a shit show of an offseason.
• 24:55
  SPEAKER_00: They lost a lot of good players, um, they made trades, they traded people away, they signed Leo Carlson to 18 million, they signed Cutter Gautier to 13.5, suddenly their salary cap is looking like a huge mess, and I think they're gonna take a step back this year because they have a lot of young defensive players, and it's hard for young players to come in and play good defense in the best league in the world.
• 25:26
  SPEAKER_00: So I see the Ducks giving up a shitload of goals.
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_00: I see them scoring a bunch, a lot of high-scoring games, but I think the Ducks will be in fourth in the Pacific.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_00: Fifth is the Kings.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_00: They are old as hell, they are slow, they are boring, and um the only good thing about the Kings is that they have a lot of contracts that are expiring next summer, so they'll have a lot of money to spend next summer.
• 25:51
  SPEAKER_00: So this is looking like a slow, boring year for the Kings.
• 25:55
  SPEAKER_00: Sixth place in the Pacific, I'm going with the Seattle Kraken.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_00: Um, not much excitement there.
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_00: They got a good goalie in Joey DeCord, Brandon Montor, former Panther.
• 26:07
  SPEAKER_00: He's awesome on the back end.
• 26:09
  SPEAKER_00: As far as the forwards, not much there that will get you tuning in night after night, um, but we'll see what happens.
• 26:17
  SPEAKER_00: Seventh place is the Flames.
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_00: I think they are going to be still continuing to ride their rebuild and try to you know be competitive, but ultimately they're gonna lose a bunch of games.
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_00: And last place in the Pacific will be the Vancouver Canucks, just a bad team.
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_00: Um their goalie can't stay healthy.
• 26:42
  SPEAKER_00: Thatcher Demko, their defense and offense is not very exciting.
• 26:48
  SPEAKER_00: I think they are just still looking to get improved, and they will be last place in the Pacific.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, so those are my division breakdowns, and now I'm going to break down the playoff seating for the East and the West.
• 27:08
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see how correct I am, or just how badly I got it wrong when it is time for the playoffs to start in April.
• 27:19
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, Eastern Conference Playoff Picture, in my opinion, will look like the Florida Panthers as the number one seed.
• 27:33
  SPEAKER_00: And once again, I'm putting a target on their back.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_00: I'm trying not to be a homer.
• 27:38
  SPEAKER_00: I know it sounds like that, but based on their roster on paper, they should be the number one seed.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_00: And obviously, all of these predictions are coming with the caveat that, you know, teams don't get just completely destroyed by the injury bug.
• 27:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um we never like to see injuries.
• 27:57
  SPEAKER_00: I don't like to see any players going down hurt because it just waters down the overall league, and um it's just not it just makes things like not very fair.
• 28:08
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm hoping for all the teams that they can stay as healthy as possible and avoid losing any major stars.
• 28:17
  SPEAKER_00: So once again, the Panthers with the number one seed in the east.
• 28:22
  SPEAKER_00: And then in the second seed, I'm gonna go with the Carolina Hurricanes.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_00: They are going to be awesome again.
• 28:28
  SPEAKER_00: Third seed in the east is gonna be the Tampa Bay Lightning, fourth seed the Washington Capitals, fifth seed, the Montreal Canadiens.
• 28:40
  SPEAKER_00: Sixth seed is going to be the Buffalo Sabres.
• 28:44
  SPEAKER_00: Seventh seed is going to be the New Jersey Devils, and then the eighth seed is going to be the Philadelphia Flyers scrapping their way in once again and potentially causing havoc.
• 28:57
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, and now the Western Conference playoff picture.
• 29:01
  SPEAKER_00: I think the Avalanche will be the overall number one seed in the West when the dust settles.
• 29:07
  SPEAKER_00: I think the Edmonton Oilers will be number two, Dallas Stars will be number three, Utah Mammoth will be the fourth seed, Vegas Golden Knights will be the fifth seed.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_00: Minnesota Wild will be the sixth seed.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_00: San Jose Sharks will be the seventh seed.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_00: And then the St.
• 29:27
  SPEAKER_00: Louis Blues will just edge out the eighth seed and grab that last wild card.
• 29:36
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're keeping track at home, I have four teams from the Atlantic making the playoffs.
• 29:40
  SPEAKER_00: I have four teams from the Metro making the playoffs.
• 29:44
  SPEAKER_00: I have five teams from the Central making the playoffs, and then I have three teams from the Pacific making the playoffs.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_00: I'm pumped up for all of this action.
• 29:55
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• 30:02
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• 30:05
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• 30:15
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• 30:22
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• 30:25
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• 30:30
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• 30:34
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• 30:40
  SPEAKER_00: I would love to have some people submit their division breakdowns of where they think each team will finish and the eight teams from the east and west that will be heading into the playoffs come April.
• 30:56
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• 30:59
  SPEAKER_00: Consider yourself served.